Results of our study showed that almost all marketing tools and activities - local newspapers, magazines, television and radio - were used by tour and hotel operators in Jammu and Kashmir. Brochures, souvenirs, booklets, guides and posters are also used with dissemination purposes among potential tourists in order to draw their attention and increase their interest in the destination. Both private tour and hotel operators and JKTDC (Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Development Corporation) use sales promotion tools, too. These include quantity discount, children discount, off-season price reduction and improved service packages for “package tours”, etc. The purpose of such discounts is to motivate domestic and international tourists to visit Jammu and Kashmir. In addition, both JKTDC and private tour and hotel operators participate at various national and international tourism exhibitions/fairs. To further increase the attractiveness of the area, different cultural shows, food festivals, seminars, symposiums, audio-visual presentations, local plays etc. are regularly organized by Jammu And Kashmir Tourism Development Corporation. JKTDC also has a website that provides information about Jammu and Kashmir; however, the page is not very well designed and should be updated more often.
Our study revealed that out of the 38 organizations surveyed, 16 organizations/respondents (42.2%) preferred affordable promotional methods. 12 organizations (31.5%) used a fixed percentage of their revenue for promotion; and 2 (5.26%) respondents based their promotional budget on the expenses of the previous years. It was also revealed that 5 (13.15%) respondents used objectives and task method in determination of promotional budget, followed by 3 respondents (7.89%) who used fixed amount method, while only one respondents used the method based on previous year’s expense. Results show that 5 respondents (13.15%, Table 1) felt that they were spending a highly sufficient amount for promotion; 3 respondents (7.89%) agreed that sufficient funds are spent for service and product promotion at the destination. It was also revealed that 3 respondent (7.89%) agreed that fairly sufficient amount was spent for promotion; 18 respondents (47.30%) answered that neutral (i.e. neither sufficient and nor insufficient) funds were allocated for promotion. 3 respondents (7.89%) told that the amount spent on promotion was insufficient, and 6 respondents (15.7%) thought that highly insufficient amount was spent on promotion. Respondents were asked about their thoughts about “the role of promotional activities in the development of tourism and hospitality industry” (Table 2). 26 respondents (68.42%) strongly agreed on that promotional activities can really play a vital role in the development of any tourism destination. This was followed by 6respondents (15.78%) who agreed and 5 respondents (13.15%) who only agreed fairly. 1 respondent (2.63%) expressed a neutral opinion (neither agree nor disagree).
Respondents were also asked about the effectiveness of promotional activities undertaken by them in order to promote their products and services in Jammu and Kashmir. It was revealed that 16 respondents (42.10%) were in neutral position (Table 3.): according to them, promotional activities were neither effective nor ineffective in attracting prospective tourists. 8 respondents (21.05%) thought that promotional activities were fairly effective and 4 respondents (10.5%) said that they were effective. 3 respondents (7.89%) felt that promotional activities were strongly effective; 3 respondents (7.89%) felt that they were strongly ineffective and 1 respondent (2.63%) answered that they were strongly ineffective.
Respondents were also asked whether more activities were required to develop the tourism and hospitality industry in Jammu and Kashmir (Table 4). 27 respondents(71.05%) strongly agreed, 3 respondents (7.89%) agreed and 1 respondent(2.63%) agreed fairly that more promotional activities were needed in the region. 3 respondents(7.89%) neither agreed nor disagreed, 1(2.63%) respondent fairly disagreed, 1 respondent (2.63%) disagreed and 2 respondents(5.26%) disagreed strongly.
Table 5 shows that the mean score of “Promotion can play strong role in tourism and hospitality” is 6.50, which indicates that most of the respondents (35 out of 38) strongly feel that the query “PROMOTION CAN PLAY” plays a vital role in promotion of tourism products and services at the destination; therefore our hypothesis (H1) that states that promotional tools play a vital role in promoting and developing tourism and hospitality in Jammu and Kashmir, is accepted.
The mean score of “need of more promotional activities in order to promote the destination and development of Jammu and Kashmir” is 6.07 (Table 5), which indicates that most of respondents (33 out of 38) strongly feel that there is dire need for promotional activities in Jammu and Kashmir in order to develop the area as a tourism destination. Hence, our second hypothesis (H2) is also accepted. However, this is a subjective parameter, since promotional results cannot be measured by host satisfaction only.
The mean score (4.28) of Table 5 indicates that their promotional measures are not effective enough. On the other hand, the mean score of respondents’ answers regarding the sufficiency of promotional expenditure is on the scale of neutral, and at the same time, they argued that more promotional efforts are needed for the tourism development in Jammu and Kashmir; its mean score is 4. This result may seem contradictionary at first, but there is a logical explanation: when the expenditure on promotional activities is close to sufficient, there may not be any need for more promotional measures; otherwise the budget is probably not sufficient. Therefore, by taking into consideration the mean values, hypotheses 3 (H3) and 4 (H4) are not accepted in this study.
Finally, at the end of the questionnaire, respondents could come up with their suggestions and recommendations to promote Jammu and Kashmir as a tourism destination brand not only in India, but at international markets as well. Some of the suggestions included that measures should be undertaken in order to attract domestic and international tourists to the region. Participation of stakeholders at various international and domestic tourism fairs and festivals; distribution of brochures and tourist handbooks at railway stations, airports and other destination places in order to disseminate information about the destination; advertisements in daily local and national newspapers, magazines and journals; television appearances at Indian television channels all could be effective tools of promotion.
Actors of the tourism industry should sign contracts with various international tour operators/consultants, and more effort should be put into the design and maintenance of the various interactive tourism websites.
Suggestions of the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Development Organisation Executives are:
ผลการศึกษาของเราพบว่า เกือบทุกตลาดเครื่องมือและกิจกรรม - หนังสือพิมพ์ นิตยสาร โทรทัศน์ และ วิทยุ - ถูกใช้ โดยผู้ประกอบการทัวร์และโรงแรมในจัมมูและแคชเมียร์ โบรชัวร์ ของที่ระลึก เล่ม คู่มือ และโปสเตอร์จะใช้กับวัตถุประสงค์ในการเผยแพร่ในหมู่นักท่องเที่ยวที่มีศักยภาพเพื่อดึงความสนใจของพวกเขา และเพิ่มความสนใจในปลายทาง ทัวร์ส่วนตัว และผู้ประกอบการโรงแรม และ JKTDC (จัมมูและแคชเมียร์ คอร์ปอเรชั่นพัฒนาการท่องเที่ยว) ใช้เครื่องมือส่งเสริมการขาย มากเกินไป ซึ่งรวมถึงปริมาณส่วนลด ส่วนลดเด็ก ระเบิดลดราคา และแพคเกจโปรแกรมปรับปรุงสำหรับ "แพ็คเกจทัวร์" ฯลฯ วัตถุประสงค์ของส่วนลดดังกล่าวจะจูงใจนักท่องเที่ยวภายในประเทศ และต่างประเทศชมจัมมูและแคชเมียร์ นอกจากนี้ JKTDC และทัวร์ส่วนตัว และผู้ประกอบการโรงแรมเข้าร่วมที่หลากหลาย และนานาชาติการท่องเที่ยวนิทรรศการ/งานแสดงสินค้า เพิ่มเติม เพิ่มความเท่ของพื้นที่ แสดงแตกต่างกันทางวัฒนธรรม เทศกาลอาหาร สัมมนา นิทรรศการ งานนำเสนอภาพและเสียง เครื่องเล่นฯลฯ เป็นประจำจัด โดย บริษัทพัฒนาท่องเที่ยวจัมมูและแคชเมียร์ JKTDC มีเว็บไซต์ที่แสดงข้อมูลเกี่ยวกับจัมมูและแคชเมียร์ อย่างไรก็ตาม หน้าเป็นการออกแบบที่ไม่ดี และควรปรับปรุงมากขึ้น Our study revealed that out of the 38 organizations surveyed, 16 organizations/respondents (42.2%) preferred affordable promotional methods. 12 organizations (31.5%) used a fixed percentage of their revenue for promotion; and 2 (5.26%) respondents based their promotional budget on the expenses of the previous years. It was also revealed that 5 (13.15%) respondents used objectives and task method in determination of promotional budget, followed by 3 respondents (7.89%) who used fixed amount method, while only one respondents used the method based on previous year’s expense. Results show that 5 respondents (13.15%, Table 1) felt that they were spending a highly sufficient amount for promotion; 3 respondents (7.89%) agreed that sufficient funds are spent for service and product promotion at the destination. It was also revealed that 3 respondent (7.89%) agreed that fairly sufficient amount was spent for promotion; 18 respondents (47.30%) answered that neutral (i.e. neither sufficient and nor insufficient) funds were allocated for promotion. 3 respondents (7.89%) told that the amount spent on promotion was insufficient, and 6 respondents (15.7%) thought that highly insufficient amount was spent on promotion. Respondents were asked about their thoughts about “the role of promotional activities in the development of tourism and hospitality industry” (Table 2). 26 respondents (68.42%) strongly agreed on that promotional activities can really play a vital role in the development of any tourism destination. This was followed by 6respondents (15.78%) who agreed and 5 respondents (13.15%) who only agreed fairly. 1 respondent (2.63%) expressed a neutral opinion (neither agree nor disagree).Respondents were also asked about the effectiveness of promotional activities undertaken by them in order to promote their products and services in Jammu and Kashmir. It was revealed that 16 respondents (42.10%) were in neutral position (Table 3.): according to them, promotional activities were neither effective nor ineffective in attracting prospective tourists. 8 respondents (21.05%) thought that promotional activities were fairly effective and 4 respondents (10.5%) said that they were effective. 3 respondents (7.89%) felt that promotional activities were strongly effective; 3 respondents (7.89%) felt that they were strongly ineffective and 1 respondent (2.63%) answered that they were strongly ineffective.Respondents were also asked whether more activities were required to develop the tourism and hospitality industry in Jammu and Kashmir (Table 4). 27 respondents(71.05%) strongly agreed, 3 respondents (7.89%) agreed and 1 respondent(2.63%) agreed fairly that more promotional activities were needed in the region. 3 respondents(7.89%) neither agreed nor disagreed, 1(2.63%) respondent fairly disagreed, 1 respondent (2.63%) disagreed and 2 respondents(5.26%) disagreed strongly.Table 5 shows that the mean score of “Promotion can play strong role in tourism and hospitality” is 6.50, which indicates that most of the respondents (35 out of 38) strongly feel that the query “PROMOTION CAN PLAY” plays a vital role in promotion of tourism products and services at the destination; therefore our hypothesis (H1) that states that promotional tools play a vital role in promoting and developing tourism and hospitality in Jammu and Kashmir, is accepted. The mean score of “need of more promotional activities in order to promote the destination and development of Jammu and Kashmir” is 6.07 (Table 5), which indicates that most of respondents (33 out of 38) strongly feel that there is dire need for promotional activities in Jammu and Kashmir in order to develop the area as a tourism destination. Hence, our second hypothesis (H2) is also accepted. However, this is a subjective parameter, since promotional results cannot be measured by host satisfaction only. The mean score (4.28) of Table 5 indicates that their promotional measures are not effective enough. On the other hand, the mean score of respondents’ answers regarding the sufficiency of promotional expenditure is on the scale of neutral, and at the same time, they argued that more promotional efforts are needed for the tourism development in Jammu and Kashmir; its mean score is 4. This result may seem contradictionary at first, but there is a logical explanation: when the expenditure on promotional activities is close to sufficient, there may not be any need for more promotional measures; otherwise the budget is probably not sufficient. Therefore, by taking into consideration the mean values, hypotheses 3 (H3) and 4 (H4) are not accepted in this study. Finally, at the end of the questionnaire, respondents could come up with their suggestions and recommendations to promote Jammu and Kashmir as a tourism destination brand not only in India, but at international markets as well. Some of the suggestions included that measures should be undertaken in order to attract domestic and international tourists to the region. Participation of stakeholders at various international and domestic tourism fairs and festivals; distribution of brochures and tourist handbooks at railway stations, airports and other destination places in order to disseminate information about the destination; advertisements in daily local and national newspapers, magazines and journals; television appearances at Indian television channels all could be effective tools of promotion. Actors of the tourism industry should sign contracts with various international tour operators/consultants, and more effort should be put into the design and maintenance of the various interactive tourism websites.
Suggestions of the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Development Organisation Executives are:
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